大象传媒

I was 12 years old when the war started in 1939. To me it was a very exciting time. We were not used to seeing aircraft, and suddently there were many more seen, and also tanks and soldiers, etc.

All the youth organisations were involved in training in first aid and fire firefighting. I was in the Boy's Brigade and did a course at a fire station where I learned what to do in case of fire. I also did a 3 year first aid course.

I was evacuated to Blackpool at the start of the war and stayed at a Boarding House and went to school in Blackpool. We shared class time with the local children - we did mornings and they did afternoons.

I stayed for about 8 months and then returned to live in Broadbottom with my family in a rented house. My education during this time was severely disrupted and I went to 3 different schools. When I was just over 15 I went to work in an aircraft factory where we reconditioned Hawker Hurricanes for the Battle of Britain.

At the age of 18 I was called up to the army and I joined about 5 weeks before VE Day. I served for 3 years as a clerk dealing with allocating reinforcements.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.